Spirit-level attachment for straight-edges.



lllllllIIIl/IIIlIII/llI/[l/b PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

A. J. PER KS.

SPIRIT LEVEL ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT EDGES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1904.

mmnumum UNITED STATES Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

ALBERT J. PERKS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, r SSIh-NOR TO \VEBSTER &

PER KS PER KS TOOL 00.,

A COPARTNERSHIP AND HERMAN VOGES, JR, OF SlRlMiFIELl), OHIO.

OOMPOSEI) OF ALBERT J.

SPIRIT-LEVEL ATTACHMENT FOR STRAlGHT-EDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 787,940, dated April 25, 1905.

- Application filed ly 23, 1904. Serial No. 217,792.

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. PERKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spirit-Level Attachments for Straight-Edges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spirit-levels, and particularly to a spirit-level especially adapted for attachment to the straight-edges now in ordinary use by wallpaper hangers, although the device may be adapted for use with other articles than straight-edges.

The object of my invention is to provide a spirit-level which is adapted to be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a straight-edge and also to provide a level which is reversible, so as to be used either as a level or plumb, a further object being to devise a device of this character which can be cheaply constructed and which will be simple and effective in operation.

The invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter de scribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device shown applied to a straight-edge in the position to be used as a level. Fig. 2 is also a perspective view showing the device applied in a different position for use as a plumb. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the level detached from the straight-edge looking at the under side of the device. Fig. 4 is a side view of the device with its under side up. Fig. 5 is an end view of the straight edge with the level shown in one of its positions thereon, the position being that shown in Fig. 2, in which it is used as a plumb.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings, 0 represents a straight edge such as is now in ordinary use by wallpaper hangers. T he straightedge is designed to receive a cutting-tool for the purpose of trimming the edges of the wall-paper and is provided on its upper surface with a guidcway adapted to receive depending lips or flanges on the cutting-tool to hold and guide the said tool. This guideway is usually formed, as shown in the drawings, by forming the upper surface of the straight-edge with a groove (1 and securing to the working edge thereof a reinforcing-strip of metal a, which metal strip overhangs the groove for a portion of its width to form, in effect, an undercut portion (1, as shown. Straight-edges have also been devised formed entirely of metal, the front edge of which has an up wardly and rearwardly projecting portion to form a guideway for the cutting-tool in substantially the same manner.

In the work of papering a wall, particularly where a neat job is required, it has been found necessary to make frequent use of a level and plumb to true up the work. In order to provide a simple device for this purpose which can be furnished for use with the ordinary straight-edge for the paper-hangers cutting-tool and which will dispense with the ordinary forms of special levels and plumbs, I have constructed a spirit level and plumb in the following manner: I) represents the main frame of the device, which consists of the portions 1) and 1), formed at right angles to each other. To the upper and outer edge of one of these frame portions 1) is secured a casing I), in which an ordinary bubbletube is secured in any desirable manner, the casing being formed open at one end and provided with a cap to permit of the insertion of the tube, said casing being also provided with a cut-away portion 1)" for the purpose of exposing the tube in the usual way. To the under side of each of the frame portions, preferably near its end, is a downwardly-projecting lug I), having a lateral projection 1) extending outwardly therefrom. At the angle formed by the frame portions is also a downwardly-projecting lug b having a lateral projection 0*, which extends outwardly toward the outer edge of each of the frame portions in the same plane with the respective lugs If and their projections, the re spective lugs and projections forming, in effect, gibs on the bottom of the said frame portions. The body portion b is preferably provided with a longitudinal strengtheningrib b on its upper side. Each of the respective frame portions is provided with a setscrew 79 1).

In placing the device on the straight-edge the same is slipped on from the end, the overhanging portion of the metallic strip a being engaged by the projections or gibs on the under surface of the frame, the set-screw b or Z) being screwed down onto the strip to cause said gibs to firmly clamp the same. If the device is to be used as a level, the same is placed on the straight-edge in the position shown in Fig. 1 and can quickly and easily be removed and reversed to enable it to be used as a plumb, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a leveling instrument, the combination of a main frame consisting of two portions formed at right angles to each other, a bubble-tube mounted on one of said frame portions, a straight-edge provided with a guideway for a cutting-tool, and means on each of said frame portions for attaching said main frame by engagement with said guideway, substantially as specified.

2. In a leveling instrument, the combination of a main frame having a bubble-tube mounted thereon, a straight-edge having an overhanging guiding portion, and means on said frame engagin with said overhanging portion for removab ly securing said frame to said straight-edge in a position to bring said bubble-tube either at right angles to or par allel with the longitudinal plane of said straightedge, substantially as specified.

3. In a leveling instrument, the combina tion of a straight-edge provided with a guideway for a cutting-tool, said guideway consisting of a groove having an overhanging strip, a bubble-tube mounted on a frame, said frame having a way or gib to receive said overhanging strip, and means for clamping said way or gib to said strip, substantially as specified.

4. In a leveling instrument, the combination of a straight-edge having a guideway for a cutting-tool consisting of a groove having an overhanging strip, a bubble-tube mounted on a frame, said frame having two portions at right angles to each other, ways or gibs on the under side of each of said frame portions adapted to engage with said overhanging strip, and a set-screw on each of said frame portions to clamp said ways or gibs to said strip, substantially as specified.

5. In a leveling instrument, the combination of a main frame consisting of two portions formed at right angles to each other, a bubble-tube mounted on one of said frame portions, a straight-edge, an overhanging guiding portion on said straight-edge, and means on each of said frame portions for removably securing the same to said overhanging guiding portion, substantially as specified.

6. In a leveling instrument, the combination of a straight-edge, an overhanging guiding portion on said straight-edge, a frame formed of two portions at right angles to each other, a bubble-tube mounted on one of said frame portions, ways or gibs on each of said frame portions adapted to engage with said overhanging guiding ortion, and a setscrew on each of said fiame portions to clamp said ways or gibs to said overhanging guiding portion, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of July, A. D. 1904.

ALBERT J. PERKS I/Vitnesses:

CHAs. I. WELCH, CLIFTON P. GRANT. 

